An edition and analysis of Sharh Nukhbat al-Fikar, a work of Ismail Haqqi al-Bursawi

Ismail Haqqi Bursawi, a sufi who lived in the period between the second half of 17th century and the first quarter of 18th century achieved fame by with his tafsir, Ruh al-Bayan in particular. However, Bursawi who did not confine himself to sufism, as a versatile scholar authored at least one book on almost e Islamic sciences. Among these sciences which he attended is Hadith. His work called Sharh Nukhbat al-Fikar is the most lengthy commentary of Ibn Hajar's work Nuzhat al-Nazar, which is translated into Turkish and the most explicated (by writing commentary or adding marginal notes) and copied book with regard to Hadith methodology in the Ottoman society. This study endeavors to provide an analysis of the aforementioned book from different aspects in addition to its edition (tahqiq). The study consists of an introduction and three chapters. In the introduction the theme, methodology and sources of the thesis are discussed. In the first chapter, the biographies of Ibn Hajar and Ismail Haqqi Bursawi, their scholarly personalities and works are presented. In the second chapter, Bursawi's book, Sharh Nukhbat al-Fikar and then the methods employed in editing and tracking of hadiths (takhrij) are introduced. As part of introducing the book, its author's aim of writing, its title and (manuscript) copies and general features, its place in the history of hadith methodology, its sources and the way the author utilises them along with their subheadings are dealt with. Detailed information about the methodology followed in the processes of editing and tracking of hadiths is supplied. In the section of analysis of the study which comprises of introduction and the first two chapters written in Turkish, to ensure the practicality in the book titles or personal names transcriptive signs are not adopted. In order to facilitate the reading, words' spelling is based on the Turkish usage. Footnotes are arranged according to the name and surnames of the authors or their famous names and the titles of books or articles are shortened within their understandability. The full titles of the works referred in the study, the place and dates of publication as well as the death dates of the authors mentioned are listed in the bibliography. In the third chapter an Arabic edition of the work is provided. For this section which is written completely Arabic constitutes a study in the character of documentary publication, the composition of the authentic text is not aimed at. Therefore the text of the edition is based on the manuscript of the author (the original) and the differences between this copy and the other copies are given in relevant footnotes. Furthermore, the index of contents to facilitate benefiting from the work in question is attached to the end of the study.